Desert island software
I’ve purchased a second-hand laptop to bring abroad with me so I can write, and store photos, and all that jazz. My means are limited and I don’t anticipate getting into video editing or any Halo 2 Vista clans, so I chose a modest machine. Here lately, I’ve been catching up on maintenance and downloading all the updates for everything with the understading that it’ll be a very long time before I have access to another high speed internet line.
It’s raised some interesting questions. Exactly what software would you take with you if you were marooned on a desert island?
I’m going with Windows XP for the operating system because Vista (being newer) unquestionably has more as-yet-undiscovered security flaws just waiting for the right opportunist. And while I’ve worked with Linux desktops before and have nothing but respect for the hardy souls who’re trying to popularize it, I just don’t know that system well enough to maintain it solo. Windows, on the other hand, I can fix with my eyes closed and one hand behind my back.
Usually, at least.
I’ve got a home version of MS Office, which I suppose I’ll keep because I’m just more familiar with its bells and whistles than I am with OpenOffice.org’s Writer. I’m still taking the OO.org suite along because I want their spreadsheet and presentation utilities. I’ll use Mozilla’s Sunbird calendar, although I’ll confess a weakness for Google’s calendar in more connected climes.
Photo-wise, I’ll probably rely on a mix of MS Paint for easy crops & resizing and The GIMP for more complicated work. Confined as I will be to a laptop touchpad, I don’t envision doing much in the way of deft digital retouching. As a matter of principle, I refuse to install any kind of album making software. So long as you’re Windows proficient enough to create and rename folders, they’re more hassle than they’re worth.
For other media, I’ve got Windows Media, iTunes/Quicktime, and the VLC player. I’m still contemplating music and video editors. Can anyone suggest something low cost and light weight?
Last but not least, we come to security software. I used to be a Zone Alarm kind of girl, but in recent years I’ve found it too expensive and too obtrusive. I’ve got good computer hygiene; I surf using Firefox with Adblock and Filterset.G, and I keep abreast of phishing currents. The Windows firewall is enough when supplemented with regular Ad-aware scans. I’ve also installed HijackThis. It’s like a gun. You get it and maybe feel a little safer, but you hope you never have to use it. It’s also like a gun in that you never leave children or amateurs unsupervised in its presence.
I haven’t installed any virus scanners. I don’t want to spare the processing cycles they take up, and I won’t be able to update the definitions file more than once a century.
So those are the programs that I won’t leave home without. If I were really brave, I might try to use the package assembled for the One Laptop Per Child initiative. It’s a fascinating idea, and it did my heart good today to hear that they’re going to distribute their wares in Uruguay. But at present I think two new languages - Spanish and Guaraní - are enough.